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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Long Term Implications of Challenger Accident
Message-ID: <350@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 11:36:22 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.350
Posted: Mon Feb 10 11:36:22 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 06:31:02 EST
References: <731@astrovax.UUCP> <941@lanl.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 28
Summary: inspiration and perspiration

In article <941@lanl.ARPA>, jlg@lanl.ARPA (Jim Giles) writes:
> In article <731@astrovax.UUCP> elt@astrovax.UUCP (Ed Turner) writes:
> ... The European discovery, exploration,
> >and eventual occupation of the New World began in Columbus's time and owed
> >nothing the the much earlier, abortive Norse/Viking efforts.  ...
> >
> Read your history again.  Columbus made several visits to Norway, Denmark,
> etc., before he began to seek funding for a westward venture to Asia.  It
> is thought by some historians that this is where Columbus came by the idea.
> He certainly used the Norse histories to bolster his own claims.
> 
It's interesting, but not really relevant, to know that Columbus was
inspired by the Viking voyages (BTW- what is your source for this?).
Ed's point is that Columbus didn`t gain any technological advantage
from the previous trips, just the knowledge that he might strike land.
We know where to find objects in our solar system.  The relevant
question is: is this a reasonable way to get to them?  Like Ed I feel
that it is a very real, and regrettable, possibility that the political
will and technological expertise will not be found in our lifetimes.
-- 
"These are not the opinions    Ethan Vishniac
 of the administration of      {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
 the University of Texas,      ethan@astro.UTEXAS.EDU
 but they are the opinions     Department of Astronomy
 of your favorite deity, who   University of Texas
 is in daily communication 
 with me on this (and every 
 other) topic.